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Her excited babbling lifts my mood significantly, and before I know it we’re laughing and talking like a couple of old friends. She asks lots of questions, none of them pertaining to the job I’m here for. She’s interested inme, in my writing. It makes me feel good.
After twenty minutes of explaining the plot of my book, how I got started with writing, what I’m working on now, and promising to sign a copy for her, I feel a gust of air hit my back.
The first words said are, “Amelia, youhaveto hire her!”
I think I love Kaitlyn.
I hear a chuckle from behind me, and I turn to see a ghost. Well, it feels like I’m looking at a ghost, because I never thought I’d willingly be in the same room as this woman again. She looks more or less the same as she used to with a short black bob, and her signature red lipstick.
I’m surprised to see her staring at me with endearment as she walks forward and holds her arms out. Luckily, I don’t fumble getting out of my seat and giving her the hug she reached for.
“You’re so grown up,” she whispers. Then, gently grabbing my biceps, she holds me an arms length away and looks me over. “You’resogrown up!”
I giggle nervously, not used to being examined like this. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“You two already know each other? So you’re hiring her, right?” Kaitlyn asks from behind me.
“Did you take notes?”
“Notes?”
“Of her interview answers?”
“Oh,” Kaitlyn says. “No, I didn’t do that.”
Amelia sighs, but it doesn’t seem serious. Not with a smile still stuck on her face.
“How does a trial day sound?” she asks as she looks back to me. “Come in for a few hours, let you get a feel for how things go around here?”
I nod eagerly. “That would be perfect.”
We work out the details, the three of us chatting at Kaitlyn’s desk for another few minutes. I can’t get over the way Amelia keeps looking at me, as if she’s proud of what she sees. I wasn’t expecting such a warm reaction considering how cold she was the last time we spoke.
When I finally walk out of the office with instructions to come back in a couple days, I can’t restrain the smile on my face. I’m excited to tell Miles how well things went and I’m momentarily surprised that he’s the first person that comes to mind. Maybe it’s because he’s the one that referred me, but I haven’t even told the girls about the potential job.
I’m usually so quick to give them every detail, but I can’t tell one of them something without telling the other. As much as I love Reya, she’s been on overdrive with comments about my potential love life. She means well, but she’s also trying hard to avoid any conversation about how she’s doing with her breakup. That one day was all I got, and I’m not surprised, despite the messages I’ve sent to check in.
I send a message to our group chat, letting them know we’re overdue to catch up. I refrain from adding that it has nothing to do with Miles, and hope it’s not what either of them assume.
The three of us meet at Vic’s house for lunch. She didn’t get a chance to find a babysitter, which worked out great because we are a gushing mess over these babies.
Her daughter, Amira, who I can’t believe is already three, hangs off of me the entire time. I’m not complaining about it for a second, I don’t see her as much as I’d like to.
“So, what’s the new job?” Reya asks with a mouth full of cheese. Lunch is an elaborate charcuterie board, filled with some things I don’t even know the names of. Fruit, cheese, meats, crackers, cute little pieces of bread, and it’s all arranged in a spiral pattern. I don’t understand howVic does it all. She has super powers.
“Another receptionist position, and it’s not exactly official. I have a working interview on Monday.” I pick up a grape, but stop myself from eating before I’m done talking. I like to think I have manners. “They do interior design and they work out of the office a lot, so it should be laid back.”
“But your boss would be Justin and Miles' mother?” Vic asks right as I pop the grape into my mouth.
“Well, yeah,” I say, chewing.
“How could that possibly belaid back?”
I shake my head, and readjust the toddler that’s falling asleep in (and trying to fall out of)my arms. “She was happy to see me. It wasn’t awkward or anything.”
“How does she feel about you guys hanging out?”
“I don't know. He might not have told her. I didn’t get details about that conversation.” Vic and Reya both open their mouths to ask their next questions, but I stop them. “It doesn’tmatter anyway, because he and I are only friends and that isn’t changing. Why wouldn’t she be okay with that?”
